The concept of bid'ah has become a means by which the Muslim nation has become divided. There are some who call anything, which did not exist during the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi was sallam), bid’ah and label those who adopt some of those practices as people of innovation (bid’ah) or misguidance (dalaalah).

The question that must be asked is: "How have the Muslims been dealing with newly introduced matters starting from the time of the Companions (Sahaba) until recent times?" In order to provide an encompassing answer to this question, I gathered the views of the four schools of thought (Madhhabs) in this booklet (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali madhhabs). From each Madhhab, I included statements of some of the famous scholars regarding the meaning and classification of bid’ah (innovation).

Henceforth, I include the magnificent research concerning bid'ah of one of the greatest scholars of the 19th century: Al-Imam Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammed Abdul Hayy Al-Laknawi al-Hindi. In his research he demonstrated how the first three blessed generations responded to the newly innovated matters which cropped up during their time. He concludes his research by providing advice on how we should deal with bid’ah in our own time. I believe his advice contains therein a cure for the disease of corrupting the term bid'ah, perhaps inadvertently, to divide the Muslim community.

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